National Headache Awareness Week: June 5-11
National Headache Foundation
Offers 5 Tips to Stop Migraines Before They Stop You
In an effort to educate
the public about the impact and severity of headaches, and support
America’s 28 million migraine sufferers,
the National Headache Foundation (NHF) has declared June 5-11, 2005
as National Headache Awareness Week (NHAW). The theme this year is “Stop
Migraines Before They Stop You.”
According to an online survey conducted by the NHF, 51% of sufferers
experience more than 10 migraine attacks per month, 52% have missed
holiday celebrations because of their condition and 92% have missed
a hobby-related activity. Migraine sufferers also lose 157 million
work days each year, which in turn costs industry $50 billion annually.
Results of the online survey indicate that 90% of sufferers have
been unable to complete a work or school day because of a migraine
attack, 41% feel that their boss and/or co-workers are not understanding
of their condition and 46% believe that their migraines have caused
them to miss out on career advancement opportunities.
The goals of National Headache Awareness Week are to gain recognition
of migraine pain as a real and legitimate condition, to let sufferers
know that there are new treatments available, and to encourage sufferers
to see a healthcare provider for proper diagnosis and treatment.
National Headache Awareness Week emphasizes Five Tips to Stop Migraines
Before They Stop You, which empowers sufferers to take control of
their condition and not let migraine pain affect every day activities.
The five tips to stop migraine before they stop you are:
1. Get Diagnosed: Only by receiving an accurate diagnosis can migraine
sufferers begin the process of taking control of their condition.
2. Partner With Your Healthcare Provider: A wide variety of treatment
options exist and together with your healthcare provider you can
determine which is most appropriate for your individual circumstances.
3. Identify Your Triggers: Keep a headache diary including foods,
time of onset, pain duration and location or other factors that you
experience with your migraine attack.
4. Use Effective Self-Management Strategies: Work with your healthcare
provider to determine if techniques such as massage, guided imagery
or biofeedback could improve your condition.
5. Utilize The National Headache Foundation As A Resource: Call 1-888-NHF-5552
or visit www.headaches.org to
subscribe to NHF Head Lines, to get headache-related topic sheets,
or to find a support group in your area.
According to Dr. Seymour
Diamond, founder and executive chairman of the National Headache
Foundation, “This year’s theme,
Stop Migraines Before They Stop You, communicates the importance
of recognizing that migraine is a treatable, neurobiologic disease
which affects approximately 30 million Americans. By effectively
managing migraine with the acute and preventive medications currently
available, migraine does not have to be a quality-of-life altering
condition. Get diagnosed, get treated and get on with your life.
The theme validates migraine pain and urges those with headaches
to seek care to eliminate needless suffering. When migraines put
a stop to your life, go see your healthcare provider for a proper
diagnosis and to discuss treatment options.”
National Headache Awareness
Week is made possible through unrestricted educational grants from
Ortho-McNeil Neurologics, Pfizer Inc, Xcel Pharmaceuticals, Inc,
Medtronic and VitaScience. For more information about headache causes
and treatments, or National Headache Awareness Week, visit the National
Headache Foundation Web site at www.headaches.org or
call 888-NHF-5552 Monday - Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Central Time.
Interviews with headache
specialists and patients are available upon request. A copy of
any NHAW document is available via e-mail to broberts@silbarpr.com.
